Melanie A. Staley
Sept. 17, 2009
10:26 am
This is a follow up to my last blog post, " China sets to provide first flu vaccine."
China is leading the way in H1N1 vaccine production, as well as general prevention of the virus. The country has had 9,000 cases of the virus so far, with the virus steadily making its way into more rural areas. Health officials are doing all that they can to keep the public informed of the risks involved and of possible treatments for the virus. Travel to and from the country is also being closely monitored by health officials. Unfortunately, many people are still skeptical of the dangers of this flu strain and are doing little more than avoiding crowds for prevention. This attitude is also due in part to the possible unknown side effects of the new vaccine. Many are worried about long term effects, especially in children. To alleviate some of this worry, Sinovac (the drug company pioneering this vaccine) will be tracking and testing patients for several years to come, in order to identify any possible harmful effects. Greater than this worry over the vaccine, however, is the fear that the H1N1 virus may become some sort of "superbug" by combining ("re-assorting") with the H5N1 avian flu. It is this fear that is driving China to take such quick steps toward eliminating the virus.
It is to our benefit as a global community that China has taken these steps. Some may see it as being drastic (I tend to raise my eyebrows at the idea of quarantining entire international flights and at how quickly the vaccine has been pushed through testing), but you can't disregard China's dedication or concern. China is one of the most populated regions in the world, and much of this population is located in relatively crowded, urban settings. Their fear is justified. I am glad that the nation is taking such great leaps to ensure its citizens' health, and by doing so, also ensuring the safety of others.
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/16/china.swine.flu.vaccine/index.html#cnnSTCText
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